The Oahu Burial Council canceled its monthly meeting at the last minute on Wednesday after three members failed to show due to scheduling conflicts and a fourth informed the group on the morning of the meeting that he’s retiring.
The absences meant the group couldn’t get enough members together to reach a quorum, according to a clerk who says she handles meeting notices. As a result, members of the public were greeted by a locked door Wednesday morning. The council’s full agenda, which includes a Honolulu rail update, will have to wait another month, at least.
The State Historic Preservation Division, which oversees the council, declined to name the member who retired, saying it was a “personnel matter.” It is accepting applications and expects to fill the vacancy soon.
A spokesman for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply told Civil Beat that Andy Keliikoa, a longtime construction inspector who sat on the burial council, had retired on Dec. 30, 2010.
The new vacancy and the missing members also threw off a needed ratio of three district representatives to one landowner or developer. The board’s rules state:
“Each council shall be composed of at least one representative from each geographic region of the island and representatives of development and large property owner interests. The councils shall have a minimum of nine and a maximum of 15 members, and have a ratio of not more than three to one and no less than two to one in favor of regional representatives.”
The Oahu group meets just , every second Wednesday. Its posted listed several agenda items, including an update from the city’s Rapid Transit Division regarding 22 parts of the island that could be affected by the planned rail transit project.
The group falls under the within the . Members are appointed by the governor from a list provided by the department and require Senate confirmation.
As of its last meeting, the Oahu Burial Council’s members included:
- Kawika McKeague
- Alice Greenwood
- Kehau Abad
- Cy Bridges
- Shad Kane
- Aaron Mahi
- Steve Hoag
- Hinamoanalei Falemei
- Andy Keliikoa
- Leimaile Quiteves
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